Railway-coupling.



N0. 697,|24. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

A. WUTHE.

RAILWAY COUPLING.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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- Patented Apr. 8,1902. A. WUTHE.

RAILWAY COUPLING.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.) (No Model.)

.|s vzrsns c0, womuma, WASHINGTON n c No. 697,124. Patented .Apr. 8, I902.

A. WUTHE.

RAILWAY CDUPLKNG.

(Application filed May 11, 1991) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nfifnewwei: [nve 71/10} In: Noam: PETERS co., momuma. wasmnn'rou, n c.

N0. 697,I24. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

A. WUTHE.

RAILWAY COUPLING.

(Application flied May 11, 190).) (No Model.) 4 S l1eets-$heet 4.

Vfibzewm; I 7102:1667

'r a an s E ENS my. Pncmurna, msnwu'ron o c ihvrrn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST WUTHE, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

RAILWAY-COUPLING.

SFEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,124, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed May 11, 1901. Serial No. 60,093. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Aucusr'Wurnn, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Railway-Couplings, of which the followingisaspecification.

My present invention relates to a coupling for railway carriages and trucks; and it consists of the new construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of the coupling parts secured on the ends of two trucks. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section of the coupling, showing the various parts in the coupled position;Fig. 4, an end view and side elevation of the coupling parts; and Figs. 5 and 6 represent sections of a modified form of coupling in the uncoupled and coupled position, respectively.

The coupling parts comprise two U -shaped hooks, one secured to the end of each truck by being attached to a cross-beam carried by the buffers of the trucks, and a plate consisting of a number of crossbars jointed together, which on the two trucks colliding with each other is automatically or manually lowered so as to enterinto the U-shaped hooks of both of the trucks. In order to enable the passing of curves, vertical rollers are mounted in the U-shaped hooks as bearingsurfaces for the articulated plates. By releasing a pawl and ratchet the articulated plates can be raised, and in this manner the two trucks will be uncoupled.

In the accompanying drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views with reference to Figs. 1-4.

The hooks 1 are each secured to a crossbeam 3, sliding on ball-bearings 'in the hollow cross-beam 2, and the articulated plate 4, which is connected with the chain-wheel 5, secured on the shaft 6, carried by the hooks 1, rests on the chains 7, mounted on the chain-wheels 5. The articulated plate 4 is lowered in the direct-ion of the arrow when the hooks 1 of the other truck bear against the angle-irons 10, jointed to the chains 7. The angle-irons 10 are thus pressed inward, and their free ends bear against a plate 11,

sition of the parts will be that shown in Fig.

3, and the two trucks will accordingly be coupled together. In the hooks 1 are vertically mounted the rollers 14, and the articulated plates 4 bear against these rollers when in the lowered position. (Represented in Fig. 8.) In this manner the plates 4 can move laterally somewhat, and thus enable-the trucks to pass curves. The chains 7, mounted on the chain-wheels 5, also pass around chainwheels 15, secured on a spindle 16, carried by the bracket 17 on the cross-beam 2. The brackets 17 are secured to a longitudinallyadjustable plate .18. On the cross-beam 2 is also provided a device for raising the articulated plate 4. This device consists of a shaft 19, mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 4 or in any other suitable manner, and of chain-wheels 20, over which the chains 21'pass which are jointed to the articulated plate 4. On the shaft 19 is also secured a spring 22, which is wound up on the articulated plate 4 being lowered and serves for raising the said plate when it is desired to uncouple the trucks. On the shaft 19 is also provided a ratchet-wheel 23, in which a pawl 25, acted on by a spring 24, nor mally engages. An angle-piece 26 is secured on the beam 2 and limits the upward movement of the plate 4. Springs 27 are secured on the bearings of the shaft 6 in order to guide the plate 4 into the proper position in the hooks 1 and to prevent the plate 4 from being caught by any part. The articulated plates are of such a thickness that each can fall into the proper position in the hooks without becoming jammed together.

The cross-beam 2 is guided on the buffers 29 by the ribs 2 The hooks 1, secured to the beam 3, which slides in the hollow crossbeam 2, the plate 4, chain-wheels 5 and 15, and plate 18 can be adjusted laterally, so that the coupling organs can be secured on either pled.

the right or the left; side of the truck, according to circumstances. The chain-wheels can also be laterally moved on the shaft 19. In order to secure the coupling parts in either the left or right hand position, hooks and corresponding eyes are provided, as shown in Fig. 4. The position ofthe cross-beam 2 is regulated by the butters 3l.and the chains 32. On two trucks colliding together the beam 2 is pushed in until the, parts have been con When the trucks are coupled, the cross-beams 2 are moved somewhat toward each other, and for this reason the articulated plates 4 are each jointed to'their correspond ing chain-wheels 5 by means of a 'pin and slot, as shown in Fig. 3, thus'admitting of a certain movementof the parts and avoiding fracture.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the coupling is not effected automatically, but-by hand. The articulated plate 4 is released by hand and falls, by reason of its own weight, into the hooks 1. By reason of this arrangement the construction is much sim-i plified, because the wheel 5 only serves in this case as a guide for tlle articulated plates 4,and the chain 7 and other parts serving the purpose of automatically lowering the plate areunnecessary.

As will be seen'by refcrenicetoFigs- 5 and 6 of the drawings, the articulatedpla'te 4 is onlysecured by the chains 21 to the device' bykwhich it is raised and loosely rests-upon the disks or wheels 5, mounted on the books 1. On the bearings of the'disks 5 are secured the springs 27, as in the construction shown inltigs. 1 to 4, and these springs serve in the modified construction likewise forguid ingjth'e articulatedplate 4 into the hooks 1.

On the shaft-19 is secured-acrank 30, by In' which". the chain-wheel 20 is actuated. this construction the articulated plate is likewise. raised by means of the spring secured onthe shaft 19, which is wound up on the articulated plate 4 being lowered. In order to prevent the plate from'being raised before it isidesi-red to uncouple the trucks, a ratchet andf'pawl may be. provided, as in the con"- struetionshown in Figs. -1 to 4, or anlyr'other.

equivalent device may be employed for the. 1

Because in this construction the end'sf9 of thehooks -1 bear'against the'beam' 3, .which'slidesin the hollow beam-2, plates purpose.

10 are provided on the beam 3 of such dimensions that when the ends 9 of the hooks' l press against the slide-beam the hooks 1 are in. the correctposition for couplingthetruc'ks. The crank 3O is then .rotated andthe plate 4 lowered into the hooks, whereupon the'trucks will becoupled together, as in theformer con struction. The other 'parts'ofthis modified construction correspond with'those described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, so that it isun-v necessary to again describe thesamewith' ref erence to Figs. 5 and;6.

What I claim, and desire to sec ure by-Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A coupling for railway-carriages and for trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided between the buffers, U-shaped hooks 1 suitably mounted on the endof the carriage or truck, an articulated plate 4 resting on the chain-wheels 5 to which it is'also jointed, angle-irons 10 jointed to the chain on the chain-wheels 5 and adapted to be moved by the hooks 1 on the carriages or trucks colliding together and thus f1 passing around the chain-wheels 5 and'the pinion 16, angle-irons l0 jointed to the chains on the chain-wheels 5 and adapted to be moved by the hook 1 on the carriages or truckscolliding together and thus to turn the chainwheels 5 and lower the plate 4 into the hooks 1, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

; 3. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guidedbetween the buffers, across-beam '3'sliding in the crossbeam 2, U shaped hooks 1 secured to the crossbeam 3, an articulated plate-4, resting on and jointedto'the chain-wheels 5, chain-wheels 5 supported on the :hooks 1, chains 7 passing aroundthe chain-wheels'5 and'the'pinion 16,

angle-ironslO jointed-to the chains on-the chain-wheels 5 and adapted tobe movedby I the hook lon the carriages or trucks colliding together andithus to turn the chain-wheels5 and lower the plate 4 into the hooks 1, chainwheels 20 mounted on a shaft" 19 carried by the beam 2, a spring likewise mounted on the shaft 19 and' adapted by means of the chain wheels 20 and chains 21 to'be wound'up on the articulated plate 4 being lowered,a ratchet and pawl likewise mounted on the shaft 19,- substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 4. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprisingin combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided betweenxthe 'bufiers, a cross-beam 3 sliding in the crossbeam 2, U-shaped hooks 1 secured to the crossbeam 3,.an articulated plate 4 res tingron and. jointed to the chain-wheels 5, chain-wheels 5 supported on the hooks 1, chains-7 passing around the chain-wheels 5 and a pinion 16,

angle-irons 1O jointed to the chains on the chain-wheels 5 and adapted to be moved by the-hook 1 on the carriages or trucks colliding togetherand thus to turn the chain-wheels 5 andlower the plate 4 between the hooks 1,

andzmeans for raisingthe articulated plate and thus uncouple the carriages or trucks, substantially as set forth.

5. A coupling for railway carriages and 1, an articulated platea resting on and jointed to the chain-Wheels 5,chains 7 crossing around the chain-wheels 5 and the pinion 16, three angle-irons 1O jointed to chains? on the chainwheels 5 and adapted to be moved by the ends 9 of the hooks 1 on the carriages or trucks colliding together and thus to turn the chain wheels 5 and lower the plate 4 between the hook 1 a plate 13 underneath the beam 2 and a spring keeping said plate in its normal position, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided between the buffers, a crossbeam 3 sliding in the crossbeam 2, and adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the beam 2, U-shaped hooks 1 secured to said beam 3, chain-wheels 5 supported on the hooks 1, an articulated plate 4: resting on and jointed tothe chain-wheels 5 chains 7 passing around each chain-wheel 5 and pinion 16, angle-irons 1O jointed to the chains 7 and adapted to be moved by the hooks 1 on the carriages or trucks colliding together and thus to turn the chain-wheels 5 and lower the plate l between the hooks 1, means for raising the articulated plates and thus uncouple the carriages or trucks, and means for securing the hooks and corresponding parts in either the left or right hand position, substantially as set forth.

7. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided between the buffers, a cross-beam 3 sliding in the crossbeam 2, U shaped hooks 1 secured to the crossbeam 3, vertically-mounted rollers 1% on the hooks 1, chain-wheels 5 supported on the hooks 1, an articulated plate at resting on and jointed to the chain-wheels 5, chains 7 passing around each chain-wheel 5 and pinion 16, angle-irons lOjointed to the chains 7 and adapted to be moved by the hooksl on the carriages or trucks colliding together and thus to turn the chain-wheels 5 and lower the plate a between the hooks 1, meansfor raising the articulated plate and thus uncouple the carriages or trucks and means for securing the hook and corresponding parts in either the left or right hand position, substantially as set forth.

8. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided between the buffers, rails 28 secured to the buffers 29 and adapted to guide the cross-beam 2, a crossbeam 3 slidingin the cross-beam 2, U-shaped hooks 1 secured to said beam 3, chain-wheels 5 supported on the hooks 1, an articulated plate 4 resting on and jointed to the chainwheels 5, chains 7 passing around each chainwheel 5 and pinion 16, angle-irons jointed to the chains 7 and adapted to be moved by the hooks on the carriages or trucks colliding together and thus to turn the chain-wheels5 beam 2 mounted on and guided-between the buffers, U-shapedhooks 1 suitably mounted on the end of the carriage or truck, disks or wheels 5 supported by the hooks 1, an articulated plate 4:, chains 21 secured to the articulated plates 4:, pulleys or chain-wheels20 over which the chains 21 pass and means adapted to rotate the chain-wheels 20, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

' 10. A coupling for railway carriages and trucks comprising in combination a crossbeam 2 mounted on and guided between the buffers, a cross-beam 3 slidingin the hollow cross-bea1n2, a facing for the cross-beam 3 against which the ends 9 of the hooks 1 bear when the carriages ortrucks are brought together, U-shaped hooks 1, suitably mounted on the end of the carriages or trucks, disks or wheels 5 supported bythe hooks 1,,an articulated plate 4, chains 21 secured to the articulated plates 4, chain-wheels 20 over which the chains 21 pass, means adapted to rotate the chain-wheels 20 and {means for raising the articulated plate and thusto uncouple the carriages or trucks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses. AUGUST WUTHE.

\Vitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER. 

